Lighting Certified (LC): The LC
designation is managed by the National
Council for the Qualification of the
Lighting Professions (NCQLP) and demonstrates proficiency in lighting design
and application. Candidates must either
hold a bachelor’s degree plus at least
three years of lighting-related experience
or have at least six years of lighting-related experience and pass a four-hour,
180-question exam. The U.S. General Services Administration requires all federal
building lighting design projects to be performed or supervised by an LC designer.

For more, visit
www.NCQLP.org.

Certified Lighting Designer (CLD):

In 2015, the International Association of
Lighting Designers launched the CLD, an
evidence-based certification in architectural lighting design. The process assesses
an individual’s proficiency in serving as a
lead architectural lighting designer. Candidates must have at least three years of
experience as a lead lighting designer. No
test is required; candidates are evaluated
based on written responses to application
questions along with exhibits that support the responses. For more, visit www.

CLD.global.

Certified Lighting ManagementConsultant (CLMC): The InternationalAssociation of Lighting ManagementCompanies (NALMCO) maintains theCLMC, the oldest lighting certifica-tion. It demonstrates proficiency in theoperation and maintenance of lightingsystems. NALMCO also maintains theCertified Sustainable Lighting Consul-tant, which demonstrates proficiencyin lighting energy management, and thetiered Certified Senior Lighting Techni-cian and Certified Apprentice LightingTechnician designations, which dem-onstrate proficiency in professionallighting-management services at thejob site. CLMC candidates must pass anexam and have a bachelor’s degree or atleast three years of experience as a light-ing management professional. For more,visit
www.NALMCO.org

Certified Lighting Controls Professional (CLCP): In October, NALMCO
launched the CLCP designation, which
demonstrates proficiency in the fundamentals of lighting-control system
design, application and commissioning. Candidates must pass a two-hour,
100-question online test based on the
Lighting Controls Association’s Education Express curriculum (available free
to the industry).

Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP): The Association of
Energy Engineers’ (AEE) CLEP designation demonstrates proficiency in
delivering energy-efficient nonresidential lighting systems. Candidates must
have one of several recognized degrees
and three to eight years of work experience in lighting efficiency or 10 years of
work experience. The candidate must
complete a CLEP training seminar and
pass a four-hour, open-book exam. For
more, visit
www.AEEcenter.org.

Advanced Lighting Controls Train-ing Program: In 2010, a consortium oforganizations launched the CaliforniaAdvanced Lighting Controls TrainingProgram (CALCTP) to train the state’selectrical workers on how to install, test,commission and maintain nonresidentiallighting controls. State-certified generalelectricians are eligible and must com-plete several prerequisite onlinecourses at the Lighting ControlsAssociation’s Education Express pro-gram, 10 hours of classroom lectureand 40 hours of laboratory installations.After passing a final exam, they canbecome certified.

In 2012, the California program
expanded to train and certify Acceptance Test Technicians (CALCTP-AT),
required by the state in projects complying with the latest iteration of its energy
code. Since 2014, building projects must
employ an Acceptance Test Technician
to certify all lighting controls are properly installed and functional prior to
issuance of an occupancy permit. For
more, visit
www.CALCTP.org.

The core training model has been
adopted in other states, giving rise to the
National Advanced Lighting Controls
Training Program (NALCTP), which
shares the goal of increasing adoption
and efficacy of advanced lighting controls. Illinois, Michigan and Washington
adopted NALCTP in 2013; Ohio in 2014
(reportedly, though it is not on their website at this time); and British Columbia in
2016. For more, visit
www.NALCTP.org.

Residential market: In the residential lighting market, certifications include
Certified Lighting Consultant and Lighting Specialist designations, both offered
by the American Lighting Association.
More information is available at www.
AmericanLightingAssoc.com.

These certifications denote a high
degree of knowledge in their respective
areas and can lead to business opportunities. The education that drives
certification can also generally result in
better quality projects.

By combining generalized knowledge
with product training, electrical professionals can become more competitive in
the increasingly complex field of lighting
and control.

Certifiably SkilledA guide to lighting certifications

AS DEMAND FOR LED LIGHTING AND CONTROLS increases, the lighting
world is becoming more complex, which raises demand for expertise to produce
good lighting solutions. Unlike other professions, lighting designers do not require
state licensure. To encourage and promote expertise, the lighting industry has
developed a series of certifications that demonstrate proficiency while providing
confidence. In this month’s column, I review the major lighting certifications.

DILOUIE, LC is a journalist and educator specializing in the lighting industry. Learn more
at
ZINGinc.com and
LightNOWblog.com. I S T